After joining the Yoshido basketball club, Ming You arranged to meet the team captain on the school roof.
"So what do you want to discuss?" Asked Jung Ho, sitting at a desk.
"You'll find out when we meet on the roof tonight." replied Ming You as he headed to his desk.
The school bell rang. A couple of hours after classes ended.
The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in bright shades of orange and purple. On the school roof, away from the noise and bustle, stood two people: Ming You, an ambitious basketball player with a determined look, and the captain of the Yoshido team, Jung Ho, who stood nearly 190 cm tall, with short red hair and a serious expression.
Ming You looked confident, his hair blowing in the wind, and his heart raced with anticipation. He knew this would be an important conversation. He approached Jung Ho, who stood with his arms crossed, gazing into the distance.
"Jung Ho," Ming You began, "thanks for coming. I wanted to talk to you about basketball."
The captain turned to him, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"What about? We have practice in half an hour, and I don't want to be late."
Ming You stepped closer, his voice becoming more serious.
"I understand, but this is important. For me, basketball is not just a game. It's war. And in war, the one who is willing to take risks wins."
"War?" Jung Ho replied, surprised. "We play as a team, Ming You. Our goal is to win together. This isn't war; it's sport."
"For you, maybe," Ming You said, looking the captain in the eyes. "But for me, it's an opportunity to show who's truly stronger. I want you to understand: victory is everything. Convincing myself of that is what matters."
Jung Ho sighed, his expression remaining serious.
"You're too fixated on winning. Sometimes how you play is more important than just the result. We need to work together, not compete against each other."
Ming You rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin.
"Listen," he started, "I don't want to just be part of the team. I want to be the best. And for that, you have to take risks. Want to play streetball? But not just for fun. I know a place where the stakes are high."
The captain frowned, not understanding what Ming You was talking about.
"Stakes? Are you suggesting we play for money? That's not what I want to do. We need to focus on the team and practice."
"Not for money," Ming You interrupted. "For something bigger. If you lose, you completely obey me. If I lose, I leave the team and become a your slave. Do we have a deal?"
Jung Ho pondered, his gaze becoming more serious.
"Are you really ready for this? It's very risky, Ming You. Do you realize this is not just a game?"
"I'm not afraid to take risks," Ming You confidently replied. "I know I can win. You don't want to look weak in front of the team, do you?"
The captain sighed, his doubts slowly beginning to dissipate.
"Alright," he finally said. "If this is what you want, I'll accept the challenge. But be ready, I won't give up without a fight."
Ming You smirked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Great. We'll meet there an hour after practice. Don't be late."
"By the way, Ming You," Jung Ho said, "do you really think this is the right path? We could lose the team because of this."
"The team?" Ming You interrupted. "I want you to understand that sometimes you have to take risks to achieve greatness. If you're not ready for that, maybe you don't belong on the team."
"And you know," Ming You continued, "I've always admired you as a captain. But I want you to know: I don't just want to be part of the team. I want to be its leader."
"Leader?" Jung Ho echoed, his voice becoming more cautious. "Do you think just winning one game will make you a leader?"
"Not just one game," Ming You replied, his voice growing more confident. "I want to change the rules of the game. I want the team to know that we have someone willing to risk everything for victory."
"And you think that will make you a leader?" Jung Ho asked, his tone softening. "A leader is not just about victories. It's about responsibility for the team."
"I'm ready to take on that responsibility," Ming You declared, his eyes burning with determination. "I want the team to know that I am capable of more."
Jung Ho looked at him, his expression becoming more serious.
"Alright," he finally said. "I'll accept your challenge. But remember, I'm not going to give up easily."
Ming You smirked; his plan was working. He knew he could now control the team and use Jung Ho to his advantage.
"Excellent," he said, surveying the school roof. "Now we will begin a new era in basketball."
Later that night, on the streetball court where Ming You had beaten Shi Lei and Hong Ji, several people had started to gather around.
Ming You stood at the corner of the street, his face calm and confident. He knew that to implement his plan, he needed temporary "allies"—the gangsters controlling the street games. He looked at the time on his phone: time was running out, but it didn't faze him.
Soon, three guys in leather jackets approached him, with Taek Jung standing out as the leader of the group.
"You're Ming You, right?" he asked, squinting. "We heard you want to organize a game, and we haven't forgotten how you beat those two guys last time."
"Yeah," Ming You replied, his voice steady and confident. "I need your help to make this event memorable."
Taek Jung smirked, his eyes shining with interest.
"And what do you propose?"
Ming You took a deep breath, keeping his composure.
"I'm ready to stake my career and the winnings from the last game. If I lose, I'll leave the team and become my opponent's subordinate. If I win, the person I play against will be my subordinate, and you can keep the betting money; for me, the game and fulfilling the agreement with my opponent are what matter."
Taek Jung pondered, his expression becoming more serious.
"Do you realize how risky this is? If you lose, you lose everything."
"I'm ready," Ming You replied confidently. "I know I can win."
Taek Jung nodded, his lips stretching into a smile.
"Alright, I like your attitude. We'll organize the game and guarantee the agreement will be upheld, but the betting money is ours."
"Great," Ming You said, as his plan began to take shape.
Minutes later, participants and spectators started gathering at the court. The crowd gradually grew, and the tension in the air became palpable. Ming You and the captain of the Yoshido team, Jung Ho, met on the court, their gazes locking.
"Are you ready?" Jung Ho asked, his voice sounding confident, but there was concern in his eyes.
"I'm always ready," Ming You replied, his face remaining impassive. This was not just a game; it was a chance to prove his strength.
Taek Jung stepped forward, drawing the crowd's attention.
"Welcome to the game! The bets are placed, and the match will start right now!"